I've been putting some thought into how to make the Warlord a more viable mage. (I've gone through three or four decks and I'm still trying to find one that works well)
His biggest handicap by far is the triple-cost arcane school. Other decks that have triple cost spells can simply avoid playing that school. But the arcane school is a must have for dispels and seeking dispels, if nothing else. The dispel wand would have been a good fix for this, except it's nerfed - it costs too many spellbook points (2 arcane times three for the Warlord) and it can only dispel level 1 spells. I might as well stock a mage wand (same spellbook cost) since it's more flexible.
arcane one-handed weapons. So he has to choose between using his +1 melee skill with a two handed weapon or using Horn of Gothos (or paying a triple-cost premium to use the mage staff)
His second biggest handicap, IMO, is the total lack of non-arcane one-handed weapons. So he has to choose between using his +1 melee skill with a two handed weapon or using Horn of Gothos (or paying a triple-cost premium to use the mage staff)
The second problem could be easily solved by the addition of a one-handed melee weapon in the war class. I think there's a promo card along those lines already. The first problem is tougher. One solution would be to create a non-arcane alternative to dispel which can be used against both unrevealed or revealed enchmantments, but whichs costs more mana than ordinary dispel.
